Men’s Hockey Games at the University of New England Draws in Bigger Crowds, Leaving the Women’s Team in the Shadows

Despite equal athletic talent, the women’s hockey team struggles for recognition as fans overwhelmingly favor the men’s games, highlighting a deeper gender imbalance in campus sports culture. 

Angelina Keizer

University Student

February 27 2025

At the University of New England, the men’s hockey team continues to attract larger crowds, overshadowing the women’s team despite both groups showcasing equal levels of athletic talent. This disparity in fan support underscores a broader issue of gender imbalance within campus sports culture. While the women’s team competes at a high level, it struggles to gain the same recognition and fanbase as their male counterparts, reflecting a persistent societal preference for men’s sports. This trend not only impacts the visibility of female athletes but also perpetuates the unequal treatment of women’s sports in college athletics.

Cayden Macqueston (She/her), a Nursing major and a freshman on UNE’s Women’s Hockey team, notices the difference in attention her team attracts as opposed to the men’s team. When asked how she felt about the issue, she feels that it’s, “just funny” the way only parents and friends come to games to show support. Meanwhile the men’s team crowd swarms the entrance doors, anxious to reserve a seat before someone else does. To Cayden, it isn’t really the crowd that feels sexist but more so the game itself. She emphasizes how, “To everyone else the men’s games are more entertaining because they can hit. It’s sexist how us girls will get penalties for hitting but the men are allowed to. Realistically what is the difference between letting guys hit themselves and letting us hit each other?”